Saturday, June 22, 2013

Event 19: Photo Slide Show

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 


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Event 19 Recap

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The final event of the Borgata Summer Poker Open was a lively, raucous tournament that ended with two of the more friendly players going heads up.  In the end Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ) beat Dennis Aiello (Kinnelon, NJ) and had a lot of fun along the way.

"We said, 'how cool would it be to play heads up,' said Giannell who won the first prize of $11,787. "And the longer it went the more it looked like it was going to happen."

On the final hand, Giannell held K♣ 10♣ and hit trip Kings to beat Aiello's pocket 10s.

"I knew he had the King," said Aiello, who earned $6,946 as runner-up, "but I was tired. It's been a long day."

The two became fast friends when they were first seated together with about 40 players remaining.  Aiello entertained everyone throughout the tournament with his trademark shouts of, "I'm alive," after winning a big hand.

"We had a lot of fun," said Giannell who earned the 18th trophy of the series along with a framed winner's photo. "How can you not like the guy?"

Aiello's brash, but playful personality rubbed some people the wrong way, but most took it in stride.

Mick O'Neill (New York, NY) was victimized by Aiello who hit a full house on the river to severely damage O'Neill's chances of winning before he finished third.

Another disappointed player was fourth place finisher, Borgata regular Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ).

"I love Borgata, this is my home," said Borrero. "I have to get me a trophy. I keep going deep, but haven't gotten their yet. I keep getting closer and closer,"

The day began with 217 entries that produced $43,400 in total buy-ins. 27 players cashed with several Borgata regulars getting their piece of the prize pool including Max Digilov (22nd) and Gil Sacks (25th).

Also making a deep run was Championship Event 13th place finisher Shaheim Sheridan who was 12th place in this event.

But the final winner of the series was an accountant who was visiting family while making friends and making memories at Borgata.

"This is probably my best live achievement," said Giannell, "It's defintiely one of my happiest days in poker."

Final Table Results

Total Entries: 217
Total Buy-In: $43,400

Place-Name-Amount

1st Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ) $11,787
2nd Dennis Aiello (Kinnelon, NJ) $6,946
3rd Mick O'Neill (New York, NY) $3,999
4th Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ) $3,242
5th Dennis Altman (Polk City, FL) $2,526
6th Paul Hirschorn (Edgewater, NJ) $2,105
7th Steve Grayber (Franklin Lakes, NJ) $1,684
8th Giovanni Vozzoto (Bellmore, NY) $1,263
9th Eric Goldfeier (Cluster, NJ) $842
10th Bruce Kanner (Bronx, NY) $547

FINAL RESULTS

Event 19 Winner - Giannell

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 50k/100k/10k ante 


Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ)
  $11,787 

After taking a 3 million to 2 million chip lead, Chris Giannell and Dennis Aiello see a flop of
K 2 5.

Aiello checks, Giannell bets 215k and Aiello calls.

Turn: K

Aiello checks, Giannell bets 250k and Aiello calls.

River: A

Aiello stares at his cards and says, "I'm all in," Giannell quickly calls.

Aiello: K 10 (trip Kings)
Giannell: 10 10 (two pairs, Kings & 10s)

"I knew you had the King," laughs Aiello who knows his tournament is over.

And with that Giannell wins the first place prize of $11,787, the trophy and a framed winner's photo.

"This is probably my best live achievement," says Gianell, an accountant, who is visiting family while on vacation, "It's defintiely one of my happiest days in poker."

 Giannell Receiving his Winner's Photo 
from Eric Harkins of Image Masters

Event 19: 2nd Place - Aiello

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 50k/100k/10k ante 

Dennis Aiello (Kinnelon, NJ)
 $6,946 

On the final hand, Dennis Aiello moves all in against Chris Giannell and see's his pocket 10s are beat by trip Kings.

"I knew he had the King," says Aiello, "but I was tired. It's been a long day."

Aiello is an auto broker who is at Borgata visiting with friends. He entertained everyone throughout the tournament with his trademark shouts of, "I'm alive," after winning a big hand.

Aiello Celebrates Winning a Hand, 
Saying, "I'm Alive!"

Event 19: Another Key Hand

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 40k/80k/10k ante 

Before Mick O'Neill was knocked out in third place, another key hand kept Chris Giannell in the game.

Dennis Aiello limped from the SB, Giannell moved all in from the BB and paused. Aiello offered up a high five saying, "whatever happens, it's been fun."

Aiello agreed, slapped hands, called and turned over cowboys.

Aiello: KK
Giannell: AJ

Giannell had one foot out the door, but an Ace on the turn saved his tournament and he got a 1 million chip double-up.

A few hands later, Giannell knocked out O'Neill.

Event 19: 3rd Place - O'Neill

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 40k/80k/10k ante  

 Mick O'Neill (New York, NY)
$3,999

Mick O'Neill's roller coaster ride comes to an end in third place.

After losing a 2 million chip pot to Dennis Aiello, O'Neill sends the last of his chips to Chris Giannell.

The pivotal hand against Aiello happens during the 30k/60k/5k level when they see a flop of A K 7.  O'Neill bets 325k and Aiello calls.

Turn: K

O'Neill checks, Aiello bets 325k and O'Neill calls.

River: 8

O'Neill checks, Aiello bets 325k and O'Neill drops a huge stack of uncounted 25k chips on top (~700k).

Aiello calls and sees O'Neill turn over KQ for trip Kings.

"Can I go all in now," asks Aiello as he slowly turns over 88 for a full house, 8s full of Kings.

"I let him get there," says O'Neill, who wasn't thrilled with Aiello's slow roll.

"I thought I had him, but thought he might have Ace-King."

The hand changes the whole table dynamic and O'Neill is content with a third place finish for $3,999.

Giannell and Aiello are now heads up for the title.

Event 19: 4th Place - Borrero

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 
  
Blinds 30k/60k/5k ante 

 Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ) 
 $3,242 

After shipping a double-up to Chris Giannell, Borrero gives him the last 350k.

Borrero: J 10
Giannell: K K

Flop: Q 9 Q (Borrero OE straight draw)

Turn: (Giannell full house)

Borrero is drawing dead on the turn and finishes in 4th place for $3,242.

Giannell, Mick O'Neill and Dennis Aiello are all even in chips at ~1.8 million

Event 19: Round & Round

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante  


We've seen a couple of double-ups since the start of the new level.

Miguel Borrero (77) sends 700k to Dennis Aiello (AK) when a King hits the turn leaving Borrero with less than 300k.

A few hands later, Borrero is at risk for 300k against Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ).

Giannell: QQ
Borrero: AK

Flop: J 10 (Borrero gutshot straight draw)

Turn: Q (Borrero straight, Giannell full house draw)

"Pair the board," says Giannell who sees a 3 on the river giving Borrero the double-up.

And they play on.

Event 19: 5th Place - Altman

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 20k/40k/4k ante 

 Dennis Altman (Polk City, FL) 
$2,526

Chris Giannell moves all in, Dennis Altman calls and is at risk for 700k.

Giannell: KQ
Altman: 88

Giannell hits a Queen on the turn and gets the knockout.

Altman is out in 5th place, earning $2,526.

Giannell is now the chip leader with 2 million after getting a 646k double-up through Mick O'Neill a few hands earlier.

Event 19: Getting Pricey

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 20k/40k/4k ante 

As blinds go up, Dennis Altman chirps, "that's 80,000 a round, that's expensive."

After doing the math everyone agrees that anteing 5 times, plus both blinds equals 80k.

5-handed play has now lasted nearly 90 minutes.

Event 19: Mick Still Running Hot

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 15k/30k/4k ante 

Mick O'Neill has been on a heater since winning the 2 million chip pot.

In a hand against Miguel Borrero, O'Neill raises from the cutoff to 75k preflop and Borrero calls from the BB.

Flop: A K 8

Borrero checks, O'Neill bets 100k and Borrero calls

Turn: 3

Borrero checks, O'Neill bets 200k and Borrero calls

River: 6

Both players check and O'Neill shows A 9. Borrero flashes an Ace and folds in frustration.

O'Neill is up to 2.3 million and still has the chip lead.

A few hands later O'Neill bets the turn, getting Dennis Aiello to fold. O'Neill shows Q 7 for a flopped two pairs.

"He always has it," says Dennis Altman.




Event 19: 2 Million Chips to Mick

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 12k/24k/3k ante 

After winning a nice pot off Dennis Aiello, Mick O'Neill is all in and at risk against Chris Giannell.

O'Neill: 10 10
Giannell: A K

O'Neill wins the race and doubles 1 million, 16k to take the chip lead at more than 2 million.

Giannell is cut to 800k on this, the last hand of the level.